Light shield



Oct. 3, 1944. o. B. LUKE 2,359,655 4 LIGHT SHIELD.

Filed 001;. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I LQIIII wi I 3 1 I 1 I l L A I I II I I I I L 1 2 I I I IQ" -59] I I 1 I I @entor I II WEI -1IlI|OI II I 014/5 5. L (/KE Maw; M I

O. B. LUKE V LIGHTSHIELD Oct. 3, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1945 Inventor Oman/55101.5 I

W a Attorneys Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHT SHIELD Owen B. Luke, Cape Elizabeth, Maine Application October 16, 1943, Serial No. 506,594

1 Claim.

The present invention relegtes tonew and useful improvements in light shields; and has'for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby the source of light will be rendered invisible when observed from beyond a predetermined angle.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a shield of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be expeditiously secured in position for use on conventional lights such, for example, as the running lights of ships.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a light shield of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a shield constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted for use on a ship running light.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the clamps.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a plurality of flat, substantially segmental, vertically spaced fins I of suitable material. At their ends, the flat, horizontal fins I are fixed at spaced points to vertical plates or the like 2.

In the embodiment shown, the device is adapted for mounting on a ship running light 3. Toward this end, angular metallic clamps 4 are fixed to the upper and lower portions of the 7 plates 2.

The pairs of clamps 4 are of a shape to extend around in back of the running light 3 where said clamps are connected by bolts 5. Below the lowermost fin I, a band 6 is mounted on the plates 2.

It is thought that the manner in which the shield-functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, in the embodiment shown, the light from the lamp 3 will be invisible when viewed from above from an angle greater than that indicated by the broken line 1 in Figure 1 of the drawings. Thus, the running lights of a vessel equipped with a shield constructed in accordance with the present invention cannot be seen from an aircraft flying in the vicinity of said Vessel unless said aircraft is flying at an unusually low altitude. The construction and arrangement, it will be observed, is such that the device may be expeditiously mounted for use on a conventional running light without the necessity of making structural alterations therein.

It is believed that the many advantages of a light shield constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A light shield for attachment to a ships light of the type having a fiat back and sides, and a transversely arcuate front lens, said shield comprising a plurality of solid fins of arcuate form adapted to fit edgewise over said lens crosswise thereof to extend forwardly of the lens, said fins having straight rear ends, a pair of plates connected to said rear ends and spacing the fins apart equidistantly, said plates being adapted to fit opposite sides of the lens, a band connecting the plates below said fins and adapted to fit across the front of the lens, angular clamps extending from said plates and adapted to fit the sides and back of the light, and means to secure said clamps together in pairs.

I OWEN B. LUKE. 

